SI 4 Mr MaxwelFs Observations 
each side, which are firmly bound together by slips of the pal- 
metto leaf In one end, a square opening is left for the door. 
The frame-work thus completed, is fastened to four upright 
posts driven into the ground, and is then ready to receive the 
roof, which is made of bamboo or palm-leaves overlapping 
each other ; it consists of two parts, attached to each other by 
a sort of hinge, for the purpose of being folded together when 
the family removes. The best houses seldom exceed twenty 
feejt in length, and twelve in breadth; the sides are about 
seven feet high, and altogether it is so light, that six people 
can easily transport a house of an ordinary size ; and, being 
so small, each family is possessed of a number proportioned to 
its wants. A bulrush palisadoe eight feet high, bound to- 
gether in the same manner as the sides of the houses, sur- 
rounds the whole. Within this inclosure, the goats, sheep, and 
hogs, &c. are always kept during the night : the entrance is se- 
cured by a door of similar materials to the palisadoe. Simple 
as the‘ inclosure is, it would appear from the natives having no 
other, that it completely answers their purpose ; although from 
an adventure which befel Captain R. Norris of Liverpool, in 
his factory at Whidah, (where all the trade is carried on in fac- 
tories,) we may conclude, that the Congoese owe their nocturnal 
safety more to the wild beasts being well fed in the woods, than 
to the bulrush screens. 
In the kingdoms of Whidah, Dahomy, and Benin, the houses 
and family inclosures are built of clay or mud, within vyhich, 
the inhabitants, with tiieir herds and docks, are protected during 
the night. Captain Norris being awakened one night by au 
unusual noise, looked out, and discovered that it was caused 
by a large panther endeavouring to leap the . outer wall, with 
a milch-goat in its mouth. The goat w^s brought from the 
ship to supply him with milk, £md Imving heard it bleating, 
the panther had scaled the wall, and was now in, the act of re^ 
turning with his prey. Although the wall was fourteen feet 
high, the panther almost succeeded in clearing it the three first 
attempts^ getting his fore feet, upon the copping each time, but 
the weight of the goat always brought him down; after this, 
every succeeding attempt falling shorter of the mark, he might 
have abandoned his prey and regained his liberty, had not Cap- 
